TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) said that Joko Widodo or Jokowi’s administration has yet to meet the target of poverty rate as set in the 2015-2019 National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN). From the target of 7-8 percent, the government had suppressed the rate up to 9.41 percent as of March 2019, from initially 10.96 percent in September 2014.

Indef research director Berly Martawardaya said the effort to lower poverty rate after it reached one-digit percent was more difficult than that of dozens percent. “So it requires innovation,” he said in a statement in Jakarta, Tuesday, July 16.

Therefore, he suggested the government learn from the past five years to draft a target of poverty rate for the 2019-2024 RPJMN.

Berly compared the poverty rate during Jokowi’s first term in office to the previous government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono or SBY in the second term. In SBY era, he added, the rate significantly declined to 11.25 percent from 13.74 percent, or by 2.49 percent or 1.6 times higher than that of Jokowi’s achievement.

Berly went on to say that there are 8 provinces with the absolute poverty rate at 1.5 times higher than the national rate. “This is a vital homework and must become the government’s work priority that is requiring rapid, innovative, and comprehensive steps,” he asserted.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution earlier said that the government is constantly establishing many programs to lower the poverty rate, such as programs related to lands and agriculture management.

FAJAR PEBRIANTO